A spring weekend in the Riviera Maya is turning into a focused calendar event at one of the region’s newer luxury resorts — built around a classic French lawn game that’s easy to follow and instantly familiar once you see it played.
The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya will host Pétanque – Torneo del Sol on April 18, a daylong tournament set along its beachfront.
Pétanque, often compared to bocce, is played by tossing metal balls toward a small target ball, with players trying to land closest or knock competitors out of position. At Kanai, the game becomes the centerpiece of a full-day event rather than a standalone competition.
A Tournament Anchored to the Beach Club
The event runs from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with teams of up to three players competing for prizes that include resort stays and spa treatments. Matches will rotate throughout the day, with guests moving between the courts and the surrounding beach club.
The tournament also serves as the finale of the resort’s seasonal collaboration with Duryea’s, the Hamptons-based restaurant brand that has been operating the St. Regis Kanai Beach Club since November.
Throughout the season, the beach club has featured Duryea’s signature menu — including its Lobster Cobb Salad, Mediterranean spreads, and wood-grilled dishes — served in an open-air setting with natural wood tables and coastal design details.
On April 18, that setup expands into a full event format, with curated culinary stations, wines, and cocktails running alongside the matches.
A Pre-Tournament Dinner the Night Before
The programming begins April 17 with a pre-tournament dinner at the beach club.
Duryea’s Executive Chef Philippe Corbet will lead the menu, starting with a Petrossian caviar course followed by a three-course dinner. The evening will also include a dessert created by chef Eric Kayser, with wines from Domaine Ottand Louis Roederer paired throughout.
The dinner is designed as an opening moment for guests and participants ahead of the tournament.
Positioning Within the Riviera Maya
The St. Regis Kanai is located within the Kanai development along the Riviera Maya coastline, an area known for its white sand beaches and proximity to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.
The resort has been building out event-driven programming as part of its positioning in the luxury segment, using collaborations like Duryea’s to bring in seasonal concepts tied to food and lifestyle.
The pétanque tournament reflects that approach, combining a recognizable lawn game with food and beverage programming in a single-day format.
A Closing Weekend for the Season
The Duryea’s collaboration runs through April 19, with the April 18 tournament marking its final major event.
The format brings together the elements that have defined the beach club over the past several months — dining, wine, and an open-air coastal setting — with a structured activity that anchors the day.
For travelers in the Riviera Maya that weekend, the event adds a clear, date-specific experience at one of the destination’s most active new resorts.
Caitlin Sullivan
2026-03-27 16:06:00